Disabilities can happen to anyone. Whether due to an injury or a serious medical condition, a disability could strike when no one is expecting it. In fact, the Social Security Administration reports that one out of every four 20-year-old adults will become disabled before they reach retirement.

Whether you were hurt on the job and no longer can work to support yourself or you developed an illness or injury that has disabled you, you may be interested in applying for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Social Security Disability Insurance benefits are benefits that you can receive if you meet the qualifications set by law. If you have worked for long enough and can no longer work to support yourself, SSDI may be a helpful method of getting the benefits you need to support yourself. Then, when you reach the age for retirement, your benefits will automatically convert to retirement benefits.

There are many myths about Social Security Disability as well as complex features of this system to discuss. Having a better understanding of what the Social Security Administration expects from you and what qualifies as a disability may help you make the decision about whether applying for benefits is right for you. Here is the ultimate guide to understanding if you may qualify for SSDI, what it takes to apply for SSDI, and more.

The Basics About Disability Benefits

If you have ever worked a job, then you may be familiar with the annual taxes that you pay to the Social Security Administration. Social Security taxes are used to support benefits systems such as retirement and Social Security Disability. SSDI coverage is coverage that workers earn by paying into this system. If you are terminally ill, disabled, and cannot work, then this coverage could provide you with financial support by replacing at least a portion of your lost wages.

The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program is designed to give assistance to those who are living with disabilities so that they can meet their basic needs.In 2021, the average monthly benefit paid out to recipients of Social Security Disability insurance was $1,280.

The system requires individuals to apply for benefits, but they need to meet certain qualifications before they can.

Generally speaking, the Social Security Disability Insurance program pays you and, in some cases, your family members if you are “insured” through the program. You’ll be insured through the program if you’ve worked long enough to qualify. You will have needed to have paid into the Social Security system through the taxes on your earnings and to have paid into the program for long enough to get assistance.

There is a secondary program called the Supplemental Security Income program, or SSI, that covers adults or children with disabilities when they have limited resources or income. For those individuals, the credit system and work requirements may not apply.

Social Security Disability Insurance can be difficult to qualify for, because there are medical requirements, work requirements and other qualifications that you will need to meet. If you can meet both the medical and nonmedical requirements and have an illness or injury that is terminal or expected to last for at least a year, then you may be able to qualify.

Additionally, even if you can work a small amount, you could still be able to qualify for SSDI so long as you are not earning more than the maximum monthly allowance. Once you’re on Social Security Disability, you won’t need to work. If you do and can slowly return to working enough to support yourself, you can opt into the Ticket to Work program, which helps you keep your benefits as you adjust to going back to work. This encourages people to try to return to work when it’s feasible to do so.

Some People Can Get Benefits Without a Wait

Usually, applicants waiting for Social Security Disability benefits do have to wait for a period of five months before they can receive their approved benefits. That means that if you’re hurt now, apply for benefits, and are approved in a month, you’ll still need to wait another five months after the date that the SSA decided your disability began before you’ll receive payments.

It is necessary to note that some people are able to get Social Security Disability benefits without having to go through the traditional application process or waiting period. There is no waiting period for those who are approved for SSDI benefits on or after July 23, 2020, and who have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

How You Can Qualify for SSDI

Before you can get Social Security Disability Insurance, you will need to be sure you qualify. Qualifying begins with making sure you have the work history necessary to seek benefits through this system. To qualify, you have to show that you:

• Worked jobs that were covered by Social Security
• Currently have a medical condition that meets the Social Security Administration’s definition of a disability

Usually, people who cannot work for at least a year are the ones who will qualify for disability insurance, because their condition is severe enough to make them unable to support themselves for the foreseeable future. Then, once they are in recovery and are starting to heal to the point of being able to work again (which may or may not happen), there is the possibility to keep those benefits until they are able to work on a regular basis again.

Work incentives are in place to encourage people to return to work when they are able to do so without losing all of their benefits. That way, they can try to transition back into the workplace but still have a safety net if they are unable to do so safely.

Remember that to qualify for SSDI, you will need to have enough work credits. The total number of credits you need will depend on your age at the time of your serious illness or disability.

The Disability Starter Kit Is Available from the Social Security Administration

It can be difficult to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance coverage, because it is such a long, multistep process. The good news is that the Social Security Administration understands how complex the process can be and has created the Disability Starter Kit for people who are thinking about applying.

These kits help people who wish to apply for SSDI prepare for their disability interview or online applications, so they can understand what to expect. These kits provide information on the documents that will be needed as well as what the SSA expects from you. Additionally, the kits include information on what the SSA considers when determining if your claim will be approved or denied.

Make Sure You Have Enough Work Credits

On the subject of work credits, you will need to show that you not only meet the definition of having a disability but also that you have worked long enough to qualify for support through the Social Security Disability Insurance system. If you have not worked long enough or paid in enough money, you may not qualify for benefits even if you are disabled.

How do social security credits work? In general, they are based on the total yearly wages you’ve earned. If you were self-employed in the past, the Social Security payments you made on your taxes will also apply towards earning the credits that you need for Social Security disability benefits.

Each year, the number of credits you need could change. How much you have to earn to equal one credit will change, too. For example, in 2022, you will need to earn $1,510 in self-employment income if you want to get a single credit.

You can only earn up to four credits each year, so it’s not difficult to earn enough to get credits for Social Security disability. If you’re short a few credits and can continue to attempt to work a little longer, you may be able to collect enough to qualify for the benefits that you need. You will need to show that you have the right number of work credits earned within a specific period of time determined by the Social Security Administration before you can qualify. If you qualified in the past but stopped working, not working could have a negative impact on your ability to qualify now.

How Work Credits Are Calculated

Work credits are calculated based on your age and how much you’ve worked and earned over the course of the last 10 years. Younger people may qualify with fewer credits since they may not yet have been able to work long enough to collect all the credits an older worker should have.

The number of credits you will need is, in general, 40. However, only 20 of those have to have been earned in the last 10 years (ending with the year when your disability started).

Since 1978, you’ve only been able to earn a maximum of four credits annually. For those who are under the age of 31, the qualifications vary a little.

• If you are younger than 24, you can qualify with as few as six credits as long as you earned them in the previous three years before your disability began
• If you’re between the ages of 24 and 31, you may be able to qualify by working half of the time between the time when you started working at age 21 and when the disability occurred. For example, if you’re 27, then you know that there were six years that you could have worked. During that time, you will have been expected to have worked three years. The maximum credits you’d have during that time (in three years) is only 12. So, at 27, you could qualify for Social Security Disability with just 12 credits.
• For those who are 31 or older, the requirement for 40 credits generally stands. At least 20 will need to be from the last 10 years.

How To Medically Qualify For Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

Medically qualifying for Social Security Disability Insurance requires you to have a disability or illness that is expected to last for at least 12 months or longer. You need to show that you cannot work because you have a medical condition that meets that Social Security Administration’s definition of a disability, which can be found in the Social Security Administration’s Blue Book. The illness or disability itself doesn’t necessarily have to be in the SSA’s Blue Book, but it does need to be qualified based on its severity or the fact that it is terminal.

To qualify for SSDI, you will need to provide evidence to support your claim of being disabled. Your injuries or illness must not be only a short-term or partial disability. Instead, this kind of insurance benefit is paid out to those with severe disabilities or terminal illnesses when they can no longer work to sustain themselves.

You can look at the SSA’s Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool to determine if you may medically qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance.

To be eligible for disability benefits, remember that you must:

• Be younger than retirement age (62)
• Meet the Social Security Administration’s definition of a person with a disability
• Be unable to work due to the medical condition
• Not have a short-term or partial disability

This screening tool will go over information such as the day you were born, whether or not you’re married, which state you live in, and more to determine if you may be qualified to apply for SSDI. If you are not yet qualified or you think there is a mistake, this is when you may want to reach out to the Social Security Administration or an attorney for more support.

The Social Security Blue Book

Remember, too, that the Social Security Administration uses the Blue Book to determine who qualifies for Social Security Disability benefits. This book is important because it was prepared by physicians and other professionals in healthcare to create a basis for disability claims. Each part of the book gives details on how to qualify based on your symptoms and the conditions that affect your body.

The one thing to become familiar with is the Listing of Impairments, which has information about how the Social Security Administration decides if someone is disabled based on the specific reason for their application. For adults, the SSA considers:

• Past work experience
• The severity of the current health conditions
• Education level
• Age
• Work skills/qualifications

The listings are available for children (under 18) as well as adults.

The adult listings are called “Part A” and include illnesses and diseases that affect different parts of the body. They are broken down into 14 categories. Please note that you may still be able to qualify for SSDI even if your medical problem isn’t listed under one of these categories. This is because the Social Security Administration has compassionate allowances that may apply to rarer conditions and unique cases.

The following categories may contain your specific condition and the qualifications that you will need to meet if you wish to get Social Security Disability benefits:

• Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Special Senses and Speech
• Respiratory Disorders
• Cardiovascular System
• Digestive System
• Genitourinary Disorders
• Hematological Disorders
• Skin Disorders
• Endocrine Disorders
• Congenital Disorders Affecting Multiple Systems
• Neurological Disorders
• Mental Disorders
• Cancer (Malignant Neoplastic Diseases)
• Immune System Disorders

The Disability Application Process

The process of applying for Social Security Disability Insurance is relatively straightforward, but you do have to gather many documents and go through evaluations to see if you qualify. You can apply by phone, in person, or online, which is helpful for those who may not be physically able to apply in one way or another.

There is a helpful disability checklist available from the Social Security Administration that goes over the information that you will need to complete your application. You may also want to discuss your application with an attorney and your doctors, because these individuals will have experience helping people apply for and seek Social Security Disability Insurance.

A basic breakdown of what you need to do to apply for Social Security Disability includes:

1. Gathering documents and information about your disability. Use the checklist mentioned above to gather as much information about your disability or illness as you can. If you complete all parts of the checklist, you should have a thorough collection of documents to support your claim.
2. Complete the basic application. Be careful not to omit any details or make any errors, because doing so could hurt your chances of having your application approved.
3. Submit your application and wait for the Social Security Administration to review it.

The Social Security Administration will go through your information to see if you have collected enough work credits to qualify for SSDI. The SSA will also look at any work that you are currently doing to see if you are working too much to qualify. Remember, if you can be gainfully employed to the point that you’re supporting yourself, you may not qualify for SSDI even if you have a disability of some kind.

How To Check The Status

If you have applied for Social Security Disability benefits, you may be eager to get those benefits paid out to you. You can check the status of your claim by going online and logging into your My Social Security account. There, you should find details about what your claim status is. If you cannot check the status of your claim online, then you have the option of calling the Social Security Administration directly.

You can reach the Social Security Administration by calling 1-800-772-1213. The TTY number is 1-800-325-0778.

If you would rather speak with someone in person, you can do so if you contact a representative at your nearby Social Security office. Others who may have information on the status of your claim could include your attorney (if you hired one to help with your application) or the disability examiner assigned to your case. The disability examiner will be able to talk to you about if the decision is still pending or if it is complete, but they won’t have information on approvals or denials.

How To Appeal An SSDI Decision

It is common for a person’s Social Security Disability benefits application to be denied the first time. If your application for Social Security benefits was denied, then you have a right to seek an appeal. An appeal needs to be requested within 60 days after you receive the notice of the initial decision. You can then go through up to four levels of appeal.

If you would like to have your application reconsidered, you have the option to ask for reconsideration online. You can also ask for a hearing with an administrative law judge or the Appeals Council online. It doesn’t matter if you live within the United States or not, these options are open to you.

To decide which level of appeal to select, look at the letter that explains the Social Security Administration’s initial denial. It will provide additional information on which level appeal is right for you based on the reason for the denial.

The four levels of appeal include:

• Reconsideration
• A hearing with an administrative law judge
• A review by the Appeals Council
• A review by the Federal Court

Reconsideration

One option you have is to request a reconsideration for a medical determination that you don’t agree with. You can use this if you’ve recently had your initial application for SSDI denied.

The reconsideration is always performed by someone who wasn’t involved in the original determination. That way, you can be sure that the person is unbiased.

They’ll go over the evidence that you originally submitted. If you submit new evidence before the reconsideration (which is usually a good idea), the person reviewing your claim application this time will consider that evidence as well.

Administrative Law Judge Hearing

The next option you have is to request a hearing with an administrative law judge. Like with the reconsideration, this judge won’t have any background knowledge of your claim before holding the hearing. They will conduct the hearing in an unbiased manner.

It is beneficial if you can come to this hearing in person, but if you cannot, there may be some cases where you can attend via video. For example, if you are in a hospital, your attorney could go to the hearing in person and you could attend through video.

Usually, this hearing is held within 75 miles of your home. Sometimes, you can choose a preferred location, too.

After you decide to seek a hearing with the administrative law judge, you should wait for a package that confirms what to do next and the first available date and time for the hearing at a location nearest to you.

Appeals Council Review

Your next opportunity to appeal is by requesting an Appeals Council review. If the administrative law judge decided to deny your claim again, you can request this appeal. The Appeals Council normally denies hearings if it believes that the hearing was held correctly and that all laws and regulations were upheld.

Federal Court Review

Your last opportunity to appeal is through a Federal Court appeal. This is the highest level of appeal and is uncommon. You use this type of appeal if you don’t agree with the third denial of your benefits. You need to file for this type of appeal in person or by calling.

Information You Need to Apply for SSDI

If you would like to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, then you will need to providing the right information on your application. There are several documents that are required by the Social Security Administration and that absolutely must be included with your application. If these are missing or filled out incorrectly, your claim could be delayed or denied.

The documents that you need to provide include:

• Proof of U.S. citizenship or that you are a lawful alien if you weren’t born in the country
• Your birth certificate (or other form recognising your birth)
• An Adult Disability Report, which collects information about the medical condition for which you’ll be applying as well as your work history and other medical information that you’d like to disclose
• Medical evidence of your disability, such as doctor’s reports, medical records, test results, and others
• W-2 forms for the last year. If you don’t have those because you’re self-employed, you’ll need your self-employment tax returns instead
• Discharge papers from the U.S. military if you were a military member before 1968
• Any pay stubs, awards, or settlement agreements you have to show that you received workers’ compensation or temproary benefits for your condition

For most of these items, a photocopy is going to be acceptable. For others, you’ll need to send the originals. For example, your birth certificate should be in its original form. If you don’t have some of these documents, you can reach out to the Social Security Administration or other organizations to get new documents.

The paperwork will also ask for some basic information. You should fill out the application with the following:

• Your name
• Your gender
• Your Social Security number
• Your birth name (if it’s not the same as your current name)
• Your citizenship status
• Details about any Social Security benefits that you or someone else has filed for in your name or on your behalf
• Details about other Social Security numbers if you have more than one
• Information about you and your spouse, such as if you’ve worked for the railroad
• Information about past military service
• The names of any children you have who are unmarried and under 18
• Information on any earnings made between 1978 and today
• Information about black lung, workers’ compensation, or other similar benefits

These are just some of the many things that will be asked for on your application. Prepare as much information as you can in advance, so you have the best opportunity to have your claim approved the first time.

Information About You

The Social Security Administration will ask for some basic information about you before you can make your claim. You’ll need to fill out the basics, such as your name, address, Social Security number, daytime phone number and an alternate phone number. If you cannot speak English, you should let the SSA know which languages you do speak, because interpreters are available to help you.

On the Adult Disability Report, the SSA also asks for contact information for people other than your doctors who can answer questions about you. Think of these people as references. You want to choose people who can give a good explanation of the condition you’re living with and how it affects you.

Information About Your Medical Condition

You do need to provide information about your medical condition to the Social Security Administration. The Adult Disability Report goes over many of the basic questions that you need to answer. Additionally, you should attach copies of any and all statements or medical documents discussing your injury for the SSA to go through.

On this report, list out every medical condition you have including both physical and psychological conditions. Mental health also plays a role in the SSA’s decision, so don’t think that only your physical symptoms apply.

Along with the basic information about your health, you will need to add any emotional or learning problems. This information gives the Social Security Administration more to work with to understand your circumstances.

Information About Your Work

Now that you have your basic information written down, you have to provide information about your work. If you have not stopped working yet, you need to let the SSA know at what point you started to believe that your injury or illness was too severe to keep working. If you did already stop working, then you should provide the date that you stopped working and the reasoning for doing so.

For example, some people may stop working completely because of their health. Others will push through until retirement. Still others may stop working because of being laid off or due to the business closing.

Along with this information, you should provide information about how your health condition impacts your ability to work. For instance, does it affect your pay? Does it impact the hours you can work? What kinds of job duties can you no longer do?

The Social Security Administration will also want to know if you’ve been able to earn more than $1,180 within a month at any time since you thought your were disabled. The reason for this is to determine if you can perform gainful employment. If you cannot, then it is clearer that you cannot support yourself easily without the benefits you’re looking to obtain.

Documents You Need to Provide

With any disability claim, your best bet is to provide as much documentation of your injuries or illness as you can. You’ll need basic documents such as:

• Your birth certificate
• Proof of citizenship or legal status
• Military discharge paperwork
• W-2 forms

These are important for proving who you are. The other documents that you will need are those that help support your claim. Some common documents to include with your application include:

• Copies of medical exam reports
• Copies of X-rays, MRIs, CT scans or other testing
• The stage of cancer that you’re living with and the prognosis (if applying with cancer)
• Letters from medical providers that detail what they think you can or cannot do
• Information from friends or family members that discuss how your health has impacted your ability to work and participate in normal daily activities

More or less, you’ll want to include as many documents as you can to show that you are truly disabled and cannot work. If the SSA finds that you can complete substantial gainful activity or that you don’t have enough evidence of a disability included with your application, then your claim may be denied.

How To Apply For Benefits Online

Applying for Social Security Disability benefits online is one of the easiest ways to start your application. You can go to this application page to get started. When you agree to the Social Security Administration’s terms and conditions, you will be taken to an application page where you can start a new application or return to an application that you already started.

The Social Security Administration points out that applying for benefits may take anywhere from one to two hours if you already have the paperwork and documents that you need. You are able to save your application while you’re working on it, so you can spread out the time it takes across multiple days or weeks if you wish.

Applying for Social Security Disability benefits is a multistep process. That means that you need to meet the requirements, gather information, and then apply. After you’ve applied, keep your username and password for the My Social Security account, so you can check on your claims’ status at any time.

Other Ways You Can Apply for SSDI

If you don’t want to apply for Social Security Disability insurance online, you have the option to do so by phone or in person. Many people choose to apply through methods other than going online, because they feel uncomfortable submitting personal information on the internet. For others, they may have questions that can be answered by the Social Security Administration admins at a local office.

If you want to apply in person or by phone, remember that representatives won’t be available around the clock. You will be able to call from Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The hours of your local Social Security office may vary, so you should search for it here.

If you are not currently living in the United States, you can still apply for SSDI. To do so, you’ll need to reach out to the local U.S. Embassy, a nearby Social Security office, or your local consulate.

How To Apply With Your Local Office

If you would like to apply for Social Security Disability, you can apply locally at your nearby Social Security office. You will need to make an appointment if you want to apply in person. To find your local office, type in your current ZIP code into this form. This will find all the local Social Security offices.

As of March 2022, all face-to-face services have been suspended at field offices and hearing offices. An alternative, until these offices reopen, is to apply online, by fax, or by phone.

How To Apply By Phone

Applying for Social Security benefits by phone is another option for most people. The national 800 number is 1-800-772-1213. The Social Security Administration does have a phone number available for those who are hard of hearing or deaf. They may call directly at TTY 1-800-325-0778.

Usually, these lines are open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Sometimes, they may not be available until 8:00 AM. Representatives are available to take calls every day from Monday through Friday. Their offices are closed on the weekends.

If You Do Not Live in the U.S. Or One of Its Territories

Did you know that any U.S. citizen can get Social Security Disability benefits so long as they qualify? It doesn’t matter if you live within the country or outside the United States.

There are some restrictions, though. For example, there are some locations that the SSA can’t mail checks to, and payments may not be able to be made to those in the USA who could get the benefits to you in a foreign country.

Remember that you do need to report if you’re going to be moving out of the United States for over 30 days. This is a requirement set by the Social Security Administration to make sure it has your change of address information.

Usually, you can continue to get your benefits while you live outside of the country. Dependents and beneficiaries are in a different position, though. In most cases, they may only continue to get benefits so long as they have not been outside of the United States for over six months (or have not been in a restricted country).

You absolutely cannot get benefits in:

• Cuba
• North Korea

There are no exceptions.

Mailing Your Documents

If you need to send mail to the Social Security Administration, you should include all your documents in a mailing envelope. You should not write anything on your original documents if you choose to mail them to the SSA. Instead, add your Social Security number to an additional sheet of paper included inside the envelope.

Keep in mind that you cannot mail certain items such as your birth records if you are an immigrant to the United States. This is because certain documents are required to be kept on your person at all times.

It is better to send documents digitally through the electronic mailing process or to take them to the Social Security office nearest to you.

Information for Advocates, Attorneys, and Third Parties

For others who are helping someone else apply for Social Security Disability, it is important to know that you can get help from the Social Security Administration. The SSA knows that it is often friends and family members who help people apply for SSDI due to their loved ones’ disabilities.

If you would like to help someone get assistance and they are aged, disabled or blind and on limited income, you may be able to help them get Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability benefits if they meet the qualifications.

To find out more about the basics of SSI and SSDI, you can visit these pages put together by the Social Security Administration.

If your loved one has a condition that meets the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances program, you may be able to assist them in getting benefits more quickly than through the traditional application process. To look into this, please visit the Compassionate Allowances program page. This program is designed for those with certain cancers, rare disorders, and brain disorders.

To get legal assistance or advocacy help, you can reach out to the local Social Security Administration office near you. It may have lists of legal referral services as well as the names of nonprofit organizations that help people in your situation.

If you have to represent someone throughout the claims process, this page provides more information on what you need to do. You will need to become an appointed representative and to sign an electronic fee agreement (e1693) with the Social Security Administration. With this process, up to six representatives can be named.

In Conclusion

To conclude, there is much to know about applying for Social Security Disability. Since the process can be confusing and require extensive documentation, it may be a good idea to work with an advocate who can assist you as you put together your claim. If you have worked for long enough and have a medical history that shows you have a real disability or terminal illness, these benefits are there for you. They’re designed to help you support yourself while you focus on taking care of your health.

You must submit an application to receive Social Security disability benefits. However, benefits might not start right away, even after you are approved for benefits. Instead, you might have to wait to receive your first check. This waiting period is called an “elimination period.”

The elimination period is five months—and they have to be full calendar months. This period sets out that you have to be disabled for a period of at least five months before you can start receiving benefits. It starts as of the date that your injury or illness became disabling. This date is often called the “disability onset date.”

Essentially, the elimination period starts the first full month after you become disabled and meet the requirements to be insured by Social Security based on the level of your earnings. Benefits then actually begin in the sixth month after you become disabled.

Below are a few of the most frequently asked questions relating to the elimination period for Social Security benefits.

Why Does the Elimination Period Exist?

The elimination period or waiting period is required because the Social Security Administration (SSA) only provides benefits for long-term disabilities. The SSA considers any disability that lasts under five months to be a short-term disability. Essentially, if your disability ends before the end of the five-month waiting period, then you will not qualify for SSDI benefits.

Keep in mind that SSDI benefits are a form of insurance. Many private disability insurance companies have similar waiting periods when they also only cover long-term disabilities.

What Are the Exceptions to the Five-Month Elimination Period?

While the elimination period is required in most cases, there are some exceptions to the rule. When an exception applies, you can start receiving benefits as soon as your application is approved. There are three exceptions to the elimination period.

1. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits.

There is no waiting period for SSI benefits. If you applied for SSI benefits instead of SSDI benefits, you could start getting payments the first month after your application.

Keep in mind that SSI benefits are lower than SSDI benefits, and SSI benefits are only available to those who are disabled or older and have limited income and resources. SSDI benefits, on the other hand, are based on disability status and prior work credits.

2. Reinstating SSDI Benefits.

You also do not have to wait for SSDI benefits if the Social Security Administration has already approved your application previously. This exception is generally only available to those who are reinstating their benefits.

3. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Diagnosis.

There is no waiting period for those who have become disabled because of ALS. However, you have to be approved for SSDI benefits on or after July 23, 2020 for this exception to apply.

Applying During the Elimination Period

SSA will tell you that you should apply for benefits as soon as you become disabled. You do not have to wait for the elimination period to apply for benefits.

Should I Wait to Apply for Benefits Until After My Elimination Period Is Over?

In general, it will take three to five months for the SSA to process an SSDI application, so you might as well go ahead and apply, even if you are still in the elimination period.

Waiting without income for several months can be very difficult, so the sooner you apply, the better. You will only end up waiting longer for a decision if you wait until after the elimination period to start the application process.

Where Can I Get Help with My Claim?

The Social Security Administration provides several resources on its website to help with disability claims. A few examples of helpful resources, all SSA publications, are included below.

• Disability Benefits
• Adult Disability Checklist
• Online SSA Benefit Application
• Check the Status of an Application
• Benefits Eligibility Screening Tool

You can also speak with an experienced disability attorney about your claim. A disability attorney can often help you with your application or help you work through an appeal if your claim has been denied. Many attorneys offer free consultations so you can talk through your claim and get advice on what you should do next.

Am I Allowed to Have an Attorney at All Stages of the Social Security Disability Process?

You are allowed to have an attorney help you at every stage of the Social Security disability process, from your initial application through the appeal process. While you are not required to have an attorney at any stage in the disability process, having a disability lawyer can increase your chances of approval for SSDI or SSI benefits.

An experienced attorney will know what the SSA examiners are looking for when they review applications. Having the right “buzz words” and including the right level of detail will help you not only through an initial claim but also through your appeal if you are denied at the first level of the application process.

Can I Keep My Benefits If I Move Out of the U.S.?

Whether you can keep your disability benefits after you move out the United States depends on the unique facts of your situation. For example, what kind of benefits you have will affect whether they will continue.

• Social Security Disability Insurance: You will continue receiving benefits as normal as long as they are from your own work credits, and you did not move to a prohibited country. The benefits will continue for at least six months.
• Supplemental Security Income: Your benefits will stop after 30 days of being outside the United States. They will not restart unless you return to the U.S.

U.S. Treasury sanctions might also limit whether you can receive SSA benefits while in a specific country. In general, SSA will not send benefits if you are in the following countries unless you qualify for an exception.

• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Moldova
• Tajikistan
• Turkmenistan
• Uzbekistan

You do not waive your rights to benefit payments while in these countries. Instead, your payments will simply be withheld until you go to a country where payments can be sent.

Additional residency requirements might also need to be met if you reside in a specific country. You can contact the Federal Benefits Unit near you to address specific questions about your situation.

When you have to make the shift from working for a living to applying for Social Security Disability Insurance, you probably have a lot of questions and just as many concerns. One of the most common is how long does it take to get Social Security Disability benefits so that you can ensure that your life will go on as close to normal as it has in the past. This is especially important to those who were not anticipating using Social Security Disability income following a long decline, but who have been injured on the job or are suddenly facing a serious illness. 

How Long Does It Take To Get Social Security Disability

How Long Does It Take To Get Disability Benefits?

For SSDI benefits, it’s fairly common to have a wait of several months to a year for your initial application to be processed, depending on your location and how busy the local office is. However, that doesn’t mean that you’ll get benefits at the same time. It’s fairly common for an initial application to be denied, often due to lack of medical evidence. In many cases, as your disability progresses, you may lose insurance coverage or stop going to the doctor as frequently because it’s too expensive or takes too much time when you’re dealing with a range of other concerns at the same time. 

Disability Claims’ Timeline

So what happens when you file for disability benefits? To start, you’ll need to fill out an application. Because it can be a long, complex form, we recommend that you talk to a disability attorney to help keep things moving smoothly throughout the entire process. This ensures that the paperwork is filled out properly, that the appropriate medical terminology and conditions are mentioned to smooth out the process, and that the application goes in quickly. Depending on the caseload at your local Social Security office, you may have a wait for your appeals hearing of six months to two years from your initial application.

When Your Benefits Start

Once you’ve either been approved on your initial application or have won your Social Security Disability hearing, your benefits will typically start after a five-month waiting period from your initial application. Because of some of the potential delays in the process, this means that there’s a good chance benefits will start within a month or two of your being approved. To speed up the process, you’ll want to choose to have your SSDI benefits direct deposited into your checking or savings account so that they’re available as soon as possible. In some situations, the benefits will deposit the night before they are due, depending on your bank and Social Security’s deposit schedule. It can be beneficial to set up any automatic payments for your expenses shortly after the last possible date of deposit in the month, typically the 28th.

Compassionate Allowances

One exception to this is what’s called a compassionate allowance, which happens when you have a terminal illness or a serious condition that is automatically recognized by the Social Security Administration as disabling. In this situation, the process is accelerated, so that the individual filing for benefits can receive them in a timely fashion. Compassionate allowances are provided for many cancers, some brain disorders and numerous rare disorders in children. Though the SSA has an existing list of diseases it approves quickly under this program, there is also an option to submit a disease for consideration to add to the list. For compassionate allowances, there is no waiting period prior to receiving benefits.

How Much You Will Receive

How much you receive will depend on how much you made and have paid into Social Security over the years. You can find this information by going to the Social Security website and requesting your latest statement through their automated online system, which will provide you details on how much you would receive if you became disabled. Though there are some factors that can reduce your SSDI benefit, which we’ll discuss below, this would at least give you a ballpark figure of where you stand.

But what if you haven’t worked long enough to have enough work credits for SSDI? In this situation, another program called Supplemental Security Income will provide some assistance. Because it is based on income, there are many factors that contribute to calculating how much you would receive from that program. You can determine if you’re eligible for SSI at the benefits website here.

Contributing Factors When It Comes To How Long It Takes To Get Disability

Wait times are very frustrating when you’re watching your bank account spin down, especially when you may have significantly higher medical bills to pay due to your disability. This is among the reasons why it’s so important to work with a disability lawyer as early as possible. Issues that can delay your disability benefits can include making mistakes on the forms, not including all of your medical conditions, not including how those conditions limit your daily life, failing to appeal a negative decision, and many more. Similarly, the number of cases that the office is handling can impact how quickly your application and appeal are processed. Working with a disability attorney ensures that these issues are not missed and that you are properly represented at every step along the way.

Back Pay

If your disability case has gone on for a while, or you became disabled and can prove it prior to applying for SSDI, you may be eligible for back cash benefits, also referred to as back pay. This payment can go back several years if needs be, provided that the disability can be proven. Back pay is often delayed behind the start of your benefits, but would be received in many cases as one lump sum. Many individuals who have had a long journey to receive their SSDI benefits have put the lump sum towards home improvements, a vehicle or medical equipment that will improve their quality of life. 

Other Payments May Affect Your Disability Benefits

There are some situations in which other payments that you receive can impact your SSDI benefits. These payments typically include worker’s compensation, pensions for work that was not covered by Social Security or public disability benefits that have otherwise come into play. These types of payments can reduce how much you’ll receive in Social Security Disability Insurance payments. Similarly, if you have private disability insurance, the amount you would be paid may include SSDI benefits, so if you have private disability insurance coverage of $60,000 per year, or $5,000 per month, and your SSDI benefit is $1,500 a month, the private disability insurance would pay you $3,500 a month.

Signs You Will Be Approved for Disability

Though nobody can guarantee that your disability case will be approved, there are several situations in which it’s more likely. If you’re over 50 or 55, you’re considered to be of “advanced age”, which shifts the grid of work you’re expected to be able to do, making approval easier. If you’re able to strongly document the progression of your disability through medical records, you’re also more likely to be approved for disability, because you’ve provided solid evidence to back up your claim. If you earn less than the Substantial Gainful Activity amount, you’re more likely to have your claim approved. If you’ve been out of work for over 12 months or work due to health concerns, you’re likely to be approved.

Tips For Getting Approved Fast

If you’re currently going through health care issues that you think may end in an SSDI claim to keep your income steady, it’s important to document everything. Start making a list of concerns you have outside commonly asked questions you may find answers to on the internet. Look at whether you have other disability pay options that you can take advantage of to maintain your income during the waiting period and time while awaiting approval. It’s also important to apply as soon as possible while obtaining evidence of when your disability started, so that you can maximize your back pay during the process.

Hope For Those Waiting To Get Disability

Though the waiting period you encounter when waiting for your SSDI benefits to be paid can seem endless from your initial application process, it’s important to approach the process correctly. As we mentioned above, it’s pretty common to have your initial disability claim denied, at which point you’ll need to appeal for a disability hearing. Rather than worrying about the process on top of your medical conditions, most people working through the long wait will hire a disability lawyer to work with you through the appeals process and their appearance before an appeals council. A disability attorney should offer you a free consultation so that you understand where you stand and how long it might take to resolve your case and help improve your odds of a positive decision at your hearing.

If you are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) through the Social Security Administration (SSA) Disability Benefits program, you likely know that the SSA will periodically conduct a continuing disability review of your case to see if you still qualify for benefits. Questions often arise about what triggers the review, how long does social security disability review take, and what you can do if your social security benefits are terminated.

What Is a Continuing Disability Review (CDR)?

The SSA conducts a periodic review of your case to determine if you still have the disabling condition that initially qualified you for benefits. It is called a continuing disability review (CDR) and includes a review of:

• Your current medical condition.
• Your income.
• Resources available to you.
• Your living arrangements.

If the SSA determines you still have the disabling condition, and that disabling condition prevents you from working, you will continue to receive benefits.

What Triggers a CDR?

When the SSA initially approves your application for social security benefits, it establishes a review schedule depending on the nature of your disability. It bases the timing of the review on the nature of your disabling condition.

• If you are expected to experience medical improvement, a review will be within six to 18 months of the decision to award you benefits.
• If improvement is possible, but might not occur, then the CDR will occur about every three years.
• If your disabling condition is such that no improvement is expected, a review will occur about every seven years.

What is the Standard for Evaluating Medical Improvement?

The SSA will send you a letter telling you that it is conducting a medical review to determine if you still qualify for social security disability. Soon after you receive the notice, someone from the SS office near you will contact you to explain to you what is involved in the process.

The SS representative will explain to you your rights and ask you to provide information about your medical treatment and current medical condition within 30 days of the notice so the SSA can evaluate your medical condition. You will also be asked about any work you may have done since you first started receiving benefits.

You will be given the opportunity to explain in your own words how you are feeling in general and if you feel like you are still disabled. You can explain how your condition affects your ability to work.

You need to inform the SSA about all doctors you have seen and all medical treatment you have received. Your doctors will be asked to provide your records to the SSA for review. It is not enough for your doctors to say you are disabled. They must explain what your disability is and how that disability affects your ability to work.

A team consisting of a doctor and disability examiner at your state’s Disability Determination Office will review your medical records. You may be asked to submit to an independent medical exam (IME) by a doctor hired by the SSA. The SSA will pay for the exam and also pay for your transportation to the location.

The team will decide if you still have a disabling condition and if so, how does that affect your ability to do the work you did in the past, and whether there is any job you might be able to work at according to the findings of the review. They will also consider whether you have followed a recommended treatment plan and have complied with the recommendations of your treating physicians.

After reviewing your medical records, and the results of the IME if one was required, the SSA will make a decision. If it deems you are still disabled, your benefits will continue. If it decides you are no longer disabled, your benefits will be terminated three months after the SSA decides your disability ended.

How Long Does Social Security Disability Review Take?

How long it takes the SSA to process a CDR depends on whether your case is selected for a full medical review which requires a review of your records by a team. If you are required to submit to an IME, that will take longer.

If your benefits are terminated, and you request a hearing in front of an administrative law judge, the SSA must give you 75-days’ notice of the hearing date.

You can speed up the process by promptly returning any forms you are sent and by waiving the 75-days notice requirement.

If the result of the CDR is the termination of your benefits, you have the right to appeal, which may according to the SSA may be a “lengthy” process.

You Have the Right to Appeal if the SSA Terminates Your Benefits

If the SSA informs you that your benefits are denied, you have the right to appeal within 60 days of the day you get notice your benefits have been terminated. There are four levels of appeal, and you have 60 days to appeal to the next level after each denial. The levels are:

• Reconsideration. This means you simply ask for a reconsideration. This means a different team will review your case. The original team will have no part in this second review. A hearing officer may be designated to hold a disability hearing where you can appear in person and argue your case.
• Administrative Hearing. If you are again denied, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge. At the hearing, you may present witnesses to support your case. In turn, the judge may call witnesses, such as a vocational counselor, treating physician, or independent medical examiner to ask questions. If the judge denies you benefits, you can appeal your case to the Appeals Council.
• Appeals Council. The Appeals Council will do another independent review of your case and of the decision issued by the administrative law judge. If the Council agrees with the judge that your benefits should be terminated, your last recourse is to file a civil lawsuit in federal court.
• File a civil lawsuit in federal court. If the Appeals Council denies you benefits, your only recourse is to then file a lawsuit in federal court.

What Happens If I Don’t Reply to the CDR Notice?

The CDR notice gives you 30 days to respond. The SSA sends a follow-up notice within 15 days to remind you that you need to respond. If you do not respond to that notice or phone calls, the SSA must try to locate you.

This includes checking with third parties, your financial institution, the post office, or your employer. If the SSA cannot locate you or communicate with you, and they do not hear from you, your benefits will be suspended 45 days after the day the SSA notifies you it is conducting a CDR.

What Must I Report to the SSA While I am Receiving Disability Benefits?

To keep in good standing with the SSA and keep your benefits coming, there are requirements you must meet. You must report, by phone, mail, or in person, the following to the SSA:

• If you work while receiving benefits. This requires reporting no matter how little money you earn. You are to report how many hours you work, when you start, and when you stop. You are given a trial work period and can still receive benefits for up to nine months. Tell the SSA if you have expenses associated with work, such as a wheelchair or prescription drugs.
• If you receive other disability benefits. This means any benefits you receive from any other source based on your disability, whether government or private, or proceeds from a lawsuit. Also, report if you stop receiving any other benefit.
•  If you are working under the Ticket to Work program. This is a voluntary program, but if you take advantage of it, report it to the SSA.
• If you move. The SSA needs your new address and phone number and any other contact information you can provide. This is true even if you have direct deposit of your benefits. If the SSA tries to contact you, and your phone number and address are not accurate, your benefits will be terminated.
• If you open a different bank account for direct deposit. You can do this online or with a telephone call.
• You cannot manage your benefits. If you admit you are unable to manage your money, you can name a personal representative who you can ask to do this for you, and SSA will evaluate that person and determine if they are suitable. If so, your benefit check will be sent to your designee.
• If you get a pension from a job that did not pay into SS. Civil service jobs and jobs with state governments do not pay into SS. Receiving this pension may result in a reduction of your SS disability benefits.
• If you get married or divorced. Your marital status may affect your disability benefits.
• If you change your name.
• If you have a warrant for your arrest.
• If you are convicted of a crime.
• If you move out of the country. You can still receive your disability benefits, but there are some countries where SSI checks cannot be sent.

If you fail to inform the SSA about any of the changes for which it requires notice, your benefits will be terrminated.